Medical Education Research
Amy Zelenski, PhD, is a medical education researcher and curriculum designer. She uses humanities-informed methods in her teaching and research, especially medical improv and storytelling. Humans are storytellers and we can use these methods more in medical communication to ensure that patients, families, and clinicians are aligned when it comes to treatment decisions.
Empathy as a Way to Improve Patient Care and Professional Fulfillment
Dr. Zelenski focuses on teaching physicians how to engage in empathic behaviors with their patients, learners and interprofessional colleagues. She also investigates how increased skill in empathic behavior can increase the quality of patient care and the professional fulfillment of healthcare professionals.
Active Projects
- Observation of Medical Improv Course: A Phenomenological Study
This study asks how medical professionals experience a communication training using improvisational theatre techniques. Dr. Zelenski is collaborating with Katie Watson, JD, at Northwestern University.
- Implementation of the ICU Care Plan: A Pilot Study
In collaboration with Dr. Jacky Kruser and Dr. Joy Moy, Dr. Zelenski is developing an implementation plan for the ICU Care Guide, a communication tool to help clinicians discuss time limited trials with patients and care partners.
- Examining the Experiences of First-Generation Trainees During Transitions
In collaboration with Dr. Jessica Tischendorf, Dr. Zelenski is conducting a survey of all first year residents and fellows at University of Wisconsin to better understand the experiences of first-generation trainees. They are looking at resilience, burnout and imposter phenomenon.
- Best Case/Worst Case ICU: A Randomized Clinical Trial of Scenario Planning for Older Adults with Serious Injury
This project tests an intervention—a communication tool plus clinician training in its use—designed to improve communication about prognosis and support clinicians and families of older adults with serious traumatic injury in the ICU.
Dr. Zelenski collaborates with The Patient Preferences Project on this research.
Funding Support
Dr. Zelenski's research is currently funded by the National Institute of Health/National Institute of Aging.
